My first visit to Paris was during the winter of 2006. My husband had meetings in Paris the following week, so we met 3 other couples a week early to explore the city. It was love at first sight! From the cobblestone streets to its breathtaking architecture, it’s rich culture, and delicious food, Paris has stolen my heart. Today I’m sharing my best tips on how to make your first visit to Paris an experience you’ll never forget.

10 trips for your first trip to Paris | Travel to paris | Just Mama Leish | What shoes to wear to Paris | Safety tips | Paris museum pass | crepes | baguette | Eiffel Tower | Paris Metro | How to Paris | Vacation Paris | France | Europe travel | Paris RER | #paris #paristravel #howtoparis

1. Bring outlet Adapters

Paris power outlets operate at 220 Voltage, whereas in the United States we operate on 110 Voltage. You want to make sure you use power adapters to plug in your electronics so you don’t fry your equipment. We prefer adapters that have USB port options. Our favorite adapter is found here. It works in Europe, the United Kingdom, and 145 other countries.

2. Bring comfortable shoes

On our most recent trip to Paris, we used the Metro, RER, and Uber to get around the city, and we still walked 68 miles in 10 days. Bring comfortable shoes!! You’ll also want to avoid wearing any type of a skinny heel. The cobblestone streets are beautiful to look at, but difficult to walk on, especially in skinny heels. I opted for a low thick heeled boot and a super comfy tennis shoe that I rotated throughout the week. Make sure you wear your shoes for a week or two before you leave so they’re well broken in before you arrive.

When we visited Paris for the first time 13 years ago, you would never want to wear a white tennis shoe. It was the first indication you were an American tourist and, thus you’d become the target of pick pocketers and scammers. Today, white tennis shoes are very much in style in Paris, and you’ll find many Parisians wearing them. You still want to avoid wearing a “running shoe”, but a simple white tennis shoe is fine.

My boots are by Abedo and I can easily walk 5-6 miles in them. You can find them here. The Nike tennis shoe I wore can be found here.

Photo by the amazing photographer and travel buddy Erin Fonnesbeck

3. Use a travel purse/bag

About 6.9 million people visit the Eiffel Tower each year. Because Paris attracts so many visitors, it also attracts Pickpockets. I feel very safe walking many places in Paris by myself, but use caution when visiting historic sites, museums, and traveling on the metro. Pickpockets are a real threat. On our most recent visit, we met a couple who had been pickpocketed the first day they were in the city. Don’t ever put your phone in your back pocket. If possible, zip your phone and valuables in your jacket pocket or keep it secured in a travel purse/bag like this.

A few other safety tips: Pickpockets work in groups, be on high alert if someone approaches you and asks you if you speak English. It’s best to nod your head “no” and walk away. Parisians are very private people and generally keep to themselves. If someone is approaching you, chances are it’s to pickpocket or try to scam you. Keep walking. Keep your passport and any valuables locked in your hotel safe if possible.

4. Learn a few key phrases in French

The French have a reputation for being “rude”, however, I have found that if you learn a few basic phrases, it makes a world of difference. Many people in Paris speak English, however, it’s polite to follow french culture and greet the person you would like to speak to, before beginning to ask them questions or directions.

Bonjour – Hello/ Good Day!

Bonsoir – Good Evening

Parlez-vous Anglais – Do you speak English

oui – yes

Merci – Thank you

For example, if I were wanting to ask for directions from someone my conversation would look something like this: “Bonjour Madame. Parlez-vous Anglais?” Then they respond with “oui/yes” and I would say “Merci, could you tell me where ….”

I love Babbel and Duolingo if you would like to work on your French before visiting Paris. Both have apps available. We also found the “Say Hi” app really helpful when we had questions for our Uber drivers, who didn’t speak English.

5. Book tickets for the Eiffel Tower 2-4 weeks before you visit Paris

You’ve come all this way and you definitely want to visit the icon of Paris, the Eiffel Tower. It’s 341 steps up to the first tier of the Eiffel Tower and 679 steps up to the second tier. If you don’t want to climb the Eiffel Tower steps or you would like to visit the Sommet of the Tower (so worth it!) you will want to book your tickets ahead of time to avoid having to spend hours in line waiting to ride the lift. You can book your tickets here.

10 trips for your first trip to Paris | Travel to paris | Just Mama Leish | What shoes to wear to Paris | Safety tips | Paris museum pass | crepes | baguette | Eiffel Tower | Paris Metro | How to Paris | Vacation Paris | France | Europe travel | Paris RER | #paris #paristravel #howtoparis

6. Get a Museum Pass

Instead of paying for each museum and historic site you visit, I recommend getting the Paris Museum pass. The Museum pass allows you tunlimited access to over 50 museums and monuments and at many sites, allows you to skip the long lines and go straight into the museum (An exception is the Palace of Versailles. The pass will allow you entry into Versailles, but it won’t allow you to skip the line. See the Versailles website to schedule a time of entry – a feature they added the week after our last visit – yay for you!!).

For the Museum Pass prices and a list of everything that is included on the Museum pass you can visit here.

Additional Tip: Make a list of the places you want to visit before you go and note the days and hours they are open before you plan your trip. Some museums are closed on certain days and others stay open late one day a week. For example, Versailles is closed on Mondays and the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays.

10 trips for your first trip to Paris | Travel to paris | Just Mama Leish | What shoes to wear to Paris | Safety tips | Paris museum pass | crepes | baguette | Eiffel Tower | Paris Metro | How to Paris | Vacation Paris | France | Europe travel | Paris RER | #paris #paristravel #howtoparis

7. Use the Metro/RER to get around

There are 2 train lines in Paris, the Metro – which has shorter routes to get around the city, and the RER line which has longer routes and extends outside to the Suburbs of Paris. You will find a Metro/RER station within a short walking distance of nearly every site you will want to visit. When we visited Paris the first time, we carried small maps with us to calculate our routes. They have since added more train lines, and thankfully they have an app to make calculating your journey a lot easier.

My husband and I ended up in a big debate over which train routes to use to go to the Sacre Couer one day, only to discover that we had each downloaded different apps for the trip. He used the Citymaps app and I was using the Paris Metro app. Both apps worked great and both had routes to get to the Sacre Couer, they just each took a different route. The good news is we ended up testing both apps and you’d be safe with either one.

Additional tips: When you get to the station and let’s say for example you are looking for the RER A line. The signs will list the RER A line with 2 different stops on it. Those stops are the last stops of each line. In the app it will give you the route and an optional train map – you can double check the end line names with the map.

Make sure you hang onto your train ticket, as you will need it to exit the train stations. Don’t be afraid to ask at the booth which ticket option is best for you. At our last visit, the attendant told us about a Monday-Friday ticket that gave us unlimited access in all the zones for 28 Euro. Also, remember to guard your phone and valuables against pickpocketers, especially during rush hour.

8. Ride the On/Off Bus

One of the best ways to get a good feel for the city is to ride the On/Off bus. We recommend the Big Bus Tours. They have 2 separate lines that run in the city. We recommend starting with the red line. Not only are you able to see the beautiful city, but you have the option of listening to a guided tour that gives the history and information behind all of the places you see on the tour. The best part about the bus is you can get off at any of the monuments and tour the monument and get back on and continue the tour.

We booked our tickets ahead of time on their app and they sent out notifications letting us know if there were protestors that would be affecting their normal routes.

10 trips for your first trip to Paris | Travel to paris | Just Mama Leish | What shoes to wear to Paris | Safety tips | Paris museum pass | crepes | baguette | Eiffel Tower | Paris Metro | How to Paris | Vacation Paris | France | Europe travel | Paris RER | #paris #paristravel #howtoparis
Photo by the amazing photographer and travel buddy Erin Fonnesbeck

9. Enjoy the Cafe’s

Watching the people, the cars, the darling shops, while eating a Croque Monsieur sandwich and a bowl of French onion soup at the Cafe is complete heaven. I could sit at the Cafe’s in Paris and soak in the city, all day every day.

A few tips: First, dining in Paris is an experience. The Parisian’s consider it rude to bring your check out to you. They want you to enjoy your experience and to not feel rushed. You will always need to ask for your check. Simply say “s’il vous plait” (please) while making the motion of signing a check in the air.

Second, when ordering water they will ask you if you want it flat of bubbly. Bubbly is soda water. If you order flat water, they will ask you if you want tap water or bottled water. You can save money by ordering “tap” water. The water tastes fine and it’s completely safe to drink.

10 trips for your first trip to Paris | Travel to paris | Just Mama Leish | What shoes to wear to Paris | Safety tips | Paris museum pass | crepes | baguette | Eiffel Tower | Paris Metro | How to Paris | Vacation Paris | France | Europe travel | Paris RER | #paris #paristravel #howtoparis
Photo by the amazing photographer and travel buddy Erin Fonnesbeck

10. Baguettes, Crepes, Macaroons, and Pain Au Chocolat

One day you will return home and think “why didn’t I get crepes twice a day while I was in Paris?” or “What I wouldn’t give for a baguette sandwich right now!” I don’t know how they do it, but they take a thin slice of ham and a thin slice of cheese, and put it on a baguette and create what seems to be the best tasting sandwich ever. It’s so simple and so yummy!! The best part is you can find them at vendors on the street.

Eat the baguettes, the crepes, the macaroons, and the Pain Au Chocolat (Chocolate croissants). Trust me, your only regret will be not eating more when you had the chance and not sneaking some home with you on the plane.

10 trips for your first trip to Paris | Travel to paris | Just Mama Leish | What shoes to wear to Paris | Safety tips | Paris museum pass | crepes | baguette | Eiffel Tower | Paris Metro | How to Paris | Vacation Paris | France | Europe travel | Paris RER | #paris #paristravel #howtoparis
10 trips for your first trip to Paris | Travel to paris | Just Mama Leish | What shoes to wear to Paris | Safety tips | Paris museum pass | crepes | baguette | Eiffel Tower | Paris Metro | How to Paris | Vacation Paris | France | Europe travel | Paris RER | #paris #paristravel #howtoparis

Paris is a magical city. I hope you love it as much as I do.

10 trips for your first trip to Paris | Travel to paris | What shoes to wear | Safety tips | Paris museum pass | crepes | baguette | Eiffel Tower | Paris Metro | How to Paris | Vacation Paris | France | Europe travel | Paris RER | #paris #paristravel #howtoparis

Please let me know if you have any great tips for visiting Paris. I’d love to hear the below.

Au revoir!

Mama Leish

199 Comments on 10 Tips for your first visit to Paris

  1. It’s appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I wish to suggest you few interesting things or suggestions. Maybe you could write next articles referring to this article. I desire to read even more things about it!

  2. I am the manager of JustCBD brand (justcbdstore.com) and I’m presently aiming to expand my wholesale side of company. I am hoping someone at targetdomain can help me 🙂 I thought that the most effective way to do this would be to connect to vape companies and cbd stores. I was hoping if anyone could recommend a dependable site where I can purchase CBD Shops B2B Sales Leads I am presently checking out creativebeartech.com, theeliquidboutique.co.uk and wowitloveithaveit.com. On the fence which one would be the very best option and would appreciate any assistance on this. Or would it be simpler for me to scrape my own leads? Ideas?

  3. Having read this I thought it was extremely informative. I appreciate you finding the time and energy to put this information together. I once again find myself spending way too much time both reading and leaving comments. But so what, it was still worth it!

  4. An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a friend who has been doing a little research on this. And he in fact bought me lunch because I found it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending the time to talk about this matter here on your internet site.

  5. Hello, I do think your blog might be having internet browser compatibility problems. Whenever I look at your blog in Safari, it looks fine however, if opening in IE, it’s got some overlapping issues. I merely wanted to give you a quick heads up! Aside from that, great blog!

  6. An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a colleague who had been conducting a little homework on this. And he in fact ordered me breakfast simply because I found it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending some time to talk about this subject here on your web page.

  7. Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Thanks, However I am going through troubles with your RSS. I don’t know why I am unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody else having the same RSS problems? Anyone who knows the answer will you kindly respond? Thanks!!

  8. Having read this I thought it was really informative. I appreciate you spending some time and energy to put this information together. I once again find myself spending way too much time both reading and posting comments. But so what, it was still worth it!

  9. Right here is the right website for anyone who wishes to find out about this topic. You know a whole lot its almost tough to argue with you (not that I actually will need to…HaHa). You certainly put a fresh spin on a topic which has been written about for a long time. Wonderful stuff, just excellent!

  10. Great goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you are just extremely wonderful.
    I really like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what you’re saying and the way
    in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still
    care for to keep it wise. I cant wait to read far more from you.
    This is really a terrific web site.

  11. Hi, I do think this is an excellent site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I’m going to revisit yet again since I bookmarked it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide others.

  12. Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Many thanks, However I am encountering difficulties with your RSS. I don’t know the reason why I am unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody getting the same RSS issues? Anybody who knows the solution can you kindly respond? Thanks!!

  13. I’m pretty pleased to uncover this great site. I wanted to thank you for ones time due to this wonderful read!! I definitely really liked every bit of it and i also have you book-marked to look at new information on your site.

  14. Having read this I thought it was very informative. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this article together. I once again find myself personally spending a significant amount of time both reading and posting comments. But so what, it was still worth it!

  15. Having read this I believed it was very enlightening. I appreciate you taking the time and energy to put this information together. I once again find myself spending a lot of time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worthwhile!

  16. Definitely believe that which you stated. Your favorite
    reason seemed to be on the internet the easiest thing to be
    aware of. I say to you, I certainly get irked while people consider worries that they plainly do not know about.
    You managed to hit the nail upon the top and defined out the whole thing
    without having side-effects , people can take a signal.
    Will probably be back to get more. Thanks

  17. Having read this I thought it was very informative. I appreciate you finding the time and effort to put this content together. I once again find myself personally spending a lot of time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worthwhile!

  18. Wow that was strange. I just wrote an extremely long comment but after
    I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Regardless, just wanted to say excellent blog!
    32hvAj4 cheap flights

  19. Having read this I thought it was really enlightening. I appreciate you taking the time and energy to put this content together. I once again find myself personally spending a lot of time both reading and posting comments. But so what, it was still worthwhile!

  20. Right here is the right web site for anyone who wants to find out about this topic. You know a whole lot its almost hard to argue with you (not that I really will need to…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a subject that’s been discussed for years. Wonderful stuff, just great!

  21. We tested coffee makers for the water temperature during the brew cycle and the brewing time as well as the temperature of the coffee at the end of brewing and during the keep warm cycle. In addition, we evaluated each brewer’s ease of use, including how easy it was to read and use the controls, access the water tank and brew basket, read the markings on the tank and carafe, whether or not it had automatic keep warm and shut off cycles, and the ease of cleaning the carafe.

  22. Undeniably consider that that you said.
    Your favorite justification appeared to be at
    the internet the simplest thing to be aware of.
    I say to you, I certainly get irked whilst other people think about issues that
    they just do not recognize about. You controlled to hit the nail upon the highest as smartly as defined out
    the entire thing with no need side-effects , folks could take
    a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thank you

  23. Hi, I do believe this is a great website. I stumbledupon it 😉 I will come back once again since i have book-marked it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide others.

  24. Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Thank you so much, However I am going through troubles with your RSS. I don’t understand why I cannot subscribe to it. Is there anybody having the same RSS issues? Anybody who knows the solution can you kindly respond? Thanks!!

  25. I intended to put you a very small word so as to thank you very much again for the exceptional opinions you have provided here. This is simply remarkably open-handed of you in giving unreservedly all that most of us would have marketed for an e book in making some cash on their own, primarily now that you might well have done it if you ever wanted. The strategies likewise acted to become a great way to fully grasp the rest have similar dream just like my own to learn lots more pertaining to this matter. I am sure there are some more enjoyable opportunities in the future for people who go through your site.

  26. I’m amazed, I must say. Seldom do I encounter a blog that’s equally educative and interesting, and let me tell you, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The problem is something which not enough people are speaking intelligently about. I am very happy that I found this during my hunt for something relating to this.

  27. I’m extremely pleased to uncover this great site. I wanted to thank you for ones time for this particularly wonderful read!! I definitely really liked every part of it and I have you book-marked to see new things in your web site.

  28. Hey very nice site!! Man .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds alsoÖI’m happy to find a lot of useful information here in the post, we need develop more techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .

  29. An impressive share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a coworker who was doing a little research on this. And he in fact ordered me dinner due to the fact that I found it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending the time to talk about this subject here on your blog.

  30. I’m now not positive where you are getting your information, but great topic. I must spend some time learning more or working out more. Thanks for excellent information I used to be in search of this info for my mission.|

  31. Unquestionably believe that which you said. Your favorite reason seemed to be on the web the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get irked while people consider worries that they just do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people can take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks

  32. It’s the best time to make a few plans for the future and it’s time to be happy. I’ve read this put up and if I could I wish to recommend you some fascinating things or advice. Perhaps you can write subsequent articles referring to this article. I want to learn even more issues about it!

  33. I’m really impressed with your writing talents as neatly as with the layout on your weblog. Is that this a paid topic or did you modify it your self? Anyway stay up the nice quality writing, it is rare to peer a great blog like this one these days..|

  34. Hi, I do believe this is a great website. I stumbledupon it 😉 I will revisit once again since I bookmarked it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide others.

  35. Hi, I believe your site could possibly be having internet browser compatibility problems. Whenever I take a look at your blog in Safari, it looks fine however, if opening in Internet Explorer, it’s got some overlapping issues. I simply wanted to provide you with a quick heads up! Besides that, excellent site!

  36. Its like you read my thoughts! You seem to know so much approximately this, such as you wrote the ebook in it or something. I think that you just can do with some p.c. to power the message house a little bit, but other than that, that is wonderful blog. An excellent read. I will certainly be back.

  37. Hi there! This post could not be written any better! Looking at this article reminds me of my previous roommate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this information to him. Pretty sure he’s going to have a good read. I appreciate you for sharing!

  38. This is the right site for everyone who hopes to understand this topic. You realize so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I personally would want to…HaHa). You definitely put a fresh spin on a subject which has been written about for years. Excellent stuff, just wonderful!

  39. I really wanted to post a simple word in order to thank you for these stunning hints you are posting on this site. My time intensive internet lookup has finally been compensated with useful ideas to exchange with my two friends. I would assert that many of us visitors are extremely fortunate to exist in a superb community with so many awesome people with very helpful tactics. I feel somewhat fortunate to have encountered the site and look forward to plenty of more enjoyable minutes reading here. Thank you once more for everything.

Leave a Reply